Did I buy the wrong button-top 18650 battery?

[coldfreeze]

Hi, I was looking for a replacement button-top 18650 battery (in blue) so I bought the panasonic button-top 18650 battery (in green).



This battery is for my portable fan. Unfortunately, the panasonic battery does not fit the battery compartment. it is a little too short. is there a way i can make the button-top part more "protruding" so that it can fit into the battery compartment. Or did I buy the incorrect replacement 18650 button-top battery?

Thanks.

 

[Bazsy]

Hi, I was looking for a replacement button-top 18650 battery (in blue) so I bought the panasonic button-top 18650 battery (in green).



This battery is for my portable fan. Unfortunately, the panasonic battery does not fit the battery compartment. it is a little too short. is there a way i can make the button-top part more "protruding" so that it can fit into the battery compartment. Or did I buy the incorrect replacement 18650 button-top battery?

Thanks.

Well, this is a jungle. Your easiest options are a small magnet on the top or some solder on the top if you have the equipment to do it.

 

[lightfooted]

You can find magnets small enough at Home Depot to do the job. If you live in the U.S.

 

[archimedes]

I think it is probably wise to at least warn non-experts of the significant dangers of (1) loose conductive magnets in a sealed battery compartment, and/or (2) applying heat (such as soldering) to a live battery

If you are an expert, are aware of the risks, and have the expertise / experience / equipment to properly manage those as such ... then the warning may be redundant

 

[peter yetman]

Speaking as someone who regularly does both those things, that warming is never redundant.
P

 

[archimedes]

Speaking as someone who regularly does both those things, that warming is never redundant.
P

Better one warning too many than one warning too few ...[emoji317]

 

[Bullzeyebill]

I've used magnets, and I have used thread lock around the edges of the magnet and they do not move

Bill

 

[fmc1]

Based on the pic that you posted it looks to me like the overall length of boths cell is almost spot on however the button on the blue cell is much larger than a typical button top 18650, at least any that I have ever seen. The size of the button on the Panasonic is what you normally see. This is leading me to think that the positive side of the battery holder in the fan has a deeper than normal indentation that needs a large button battery in order to make contact. Normally these indentations are there for reverse polarity protection.


Depending on the battery compartment you may be able to modify it a little. Does the battery go in vertically like a flashlight or horizontally like a TV remote?

If the battery compartment is accessible I would have no reservations about suggesting a little solder in the battery holder indentation. This is way safer that soldering on the battery itself. Even if you put too much in and end up disabling the reverse polarity protection and then at some point in time you put a battery in backwards. Chances are the fan will just spin backwards.


The magnet suggestion should be reasonably safe certainly for a quick test to see if the button depth is the problem. If it works you can then evaluate a safer and more permanent solution.


Frank

 

[coldfreeze]

I've used magnets, and I have used thread lock around the edges of the magnet and they do not move

Bill

What is this "thread lock"?

 

[archimedes]

What is this "thread lock"?

I think he is referring to "Loctite" (or similar)